Gartner maps six key trends reshaping IT operations for 2026
The research firm have said the trends will influence spending decisions, technical design and risk management over the next 12 to 18 months.
Published on 18th December 2025
Gartner has set out six trends that it says will reshape how infrastructure and operations teams plan and run technology over the next 12 to 18 months.
The research firm said the trends will influence spending decisions, technical design and risk management in 2026. The list covers hybrid computing, agentic AI, AI governance platforms, energy-efficient computing, disinformation security and geopatriation.
Infrastructure and operations, often referred to as I&O, covers the hardware, software and processes that support business applications and data. Gartner said leaders in this area face pressure from AI adoption, energy constraints and geopolitical change.
“I&O leaders must be aware of all of these trends and prepare to act on the ones that are most likely to impact their organisations, so that they’ll be able to adapt, respond effectively, and drive innovation,” said Jeffrey Hewitt, VP Analyst at Gartner. “By understanding the full impact of these emerging trends, enterprises can implement effective tactics to respond, get ahead of the curve, and maximise the value of their I&O operations in 2026.”
Hybrid Computing
Gartner described hybrid computing as an emerging style of infrastructure design. It said this style coordinates different compute, storage and network mechanisms.
These mechanisms can sit across several environments. They can also use incompatible technologies.
Gartner said this orchestration can extend the life of current infrastructure investments. It said it can also combine old and new systems into a more flexible compute fabric.
“Hybrid computing will force I&O leaders to adopt composable business and technology architecture as part of a long-term strategy for building systems and applications,” said Hewitt.
Agentic AI
Gartner placed agentic AI as a priority within the broad wave of AI adoption. It said chief information officers rank AI among their top three priorities.
Agentic AI refers to systems that can analyse data, identify patterns and act with some autonomy. These systems go beyond simple recommendation engines or chatbots.
Gartner said these tools can reduce the time I&O teams spend on repetitive tasks. It said they can also take on complex analysis work that humans currently handle.
“AI is one of the top three priorities for CIOs, and agentic AI is a very beneficial subset of that,” said Hewitt. “Agentic AI provides a significant opportunity for I&O leaders in that it enables performance gains through time savings, which will increase over time as systems evolve. It can support I&O by quickly analysing complex datasets, identifying patterns and acting autonomously.”
AI Governance
Gartner said AI governance has become a distinct category of work for I&O teams. It defined AI governance as the process of creating policies, assigning decision rights and building accountability around AI use.
AI governance platforms sit on top of AI systems. These platforms oversee how AI models are built, trained, deployed and monitored.
The firm said these platforms can embed responsible AI practices into daily operations. They also track compliance risks and business risks.
Gartner said the platforms address issues such as bias, transparency, data protection and privacy. They also cover model evaluation, validation and security threats that stem from AI misuse.
Energy Focus
Energy-efficient computing appears as a separate trend on the list. Gartner linked it to hybrid computing but framed it as a specific response to energy and carbon constraints.
The firm described it as a package of technologies and practices. These measures cut the energy use and carbon footprint of IT systems.
Gartner said I&O leaders can influence both power use and environmental impact through design choices. It said organisations can define long-term strategies around this goal.
The firm cited optical computing and neuromorphic systems as examples of emerging technologies in this area. These technologies use different approaches to data processing than traditional chips.
Disinformation Risks
Gartner introduced disinformation security as a new focus for infrastructure and operations. It defined this as a suite of technologies that tackle disinformation.
These tools sit alongside existing security controls. They address brand protection, identity protection and online reputation.
The company said disinformation security covers deepfake detection and impersonation prevention. It also covers monitoring and protection of corporate image.
“Given the evolving technology landscape, disinformation security will enable I&O leaders to ensure trust in communications, identity and reputation,” said Hewitt.
Geopatriation
The final trend on Gartner’s list is geopatriation. The firm defined this as moving workloads and applications from global cloud providers to regional or national alternatives.
Gartner linked this trend to geopolitical uncertainty and national policy shifts. It said organisations are reassessing where they run and store critical systems.
Geopatriation builds on an earlier theme that Gartner called nationalism versus globalism. That earlier theme focused on data sovereignty.
“Geopatriation is an extension of a previous trend called ‘nationalism versus globalism,” said Hewitt. “Arguably, it goes beyond cloud from just data sovereignty to operational sovereignty to technical sovereignty. Geopatriation empowers I&O to reduce geopolitical risks and address specific sovereignty requirements. It also enables I&O leaders to support and increase the independence of domestic economies.”